As summer approaches, the same goes for more cuts to the city of Orange Services – Orange County Register

The city of Orange looks at another potential deficit of the general fund for the exercise from July.

Over things, the city provides for an operational deficit of around $ 1.2 million.

It is even after the municipal director’s proposal to reduce nearly $ 13 million compared to this year’s budget.

“Income growth is infinitesimal compared to our continuous expenses, which means that we continue to be upside down,” said Board of the Council Arianna Barrios.

Some summer cuts should not take effect.

On the one hand, the city has agreed that it would not host the fireworks of July 3, ending a tradition of almost 30 years.

In addition, the city cancels the summer day camps and many swimming courses in Hart Park – the large swimming pool will be closed for recreational swimming, water exercises and rentals, according to a recent summer programming update published by the city.

Earlier this year, the city reduced library hours.

Beyond summer, Orange plans to be content with less staff.

The director of finance, Trang Nguyen, recommended that the Council eliminate 24 full -time equivalent stations of the budget.

These positions are currently vacant, she said.

Removing them will make the city more difficult for the city to increase the workforce in the future, officials said.

The city has around 50 other vacant posts, according to a staff report. Most of these positions remain unpaid due to budgetary constraints, said Nguyen.

Despite the Lean staff, Nguyen and the municipal director Tom Kisela ask the municipal council to reduce the budgetary overtime by 60%.

This would save Orange around $ 2.5 million in police and fire management management, which benefit many more overtime than other city services.

The city will also probably differentiate the maintenance and replacement of the equipment between the departments.

“Not only are these cuts cuts, but they are repair cuts,” said Kisela.

In particular, he and Nguyen recommend that the municipal council eliminates nearly $ 3 million in budgetary contributions to computer operating funds.

They also request under-funding responsibility and compensation funds for work accidents of around $ 2 million, which will lead to “aggravating payments in the coming years,” said a staff report.

The city has a history of under-funding of its accounts of responsibility, adds the report.

However, city leaders assume that deferred contributions are a necessary step to balance the Orange budget, which has had a structural deficit from the great recession, officials said.

The municipal council attempted to rectify its budgetary problem last year by offering a half-century local sales tax which would have collected around 20 million dollars a year, but the voters narrowly beat this initiative in the ballot box in November.

Now, while the Council begins its examination of the budget next year, the staff work with Grant Thornton, a large accounting and advice company, to reassess the organizational structure of the town hall and find opportunities for additional budget and income development.

Originally published: April 3, 2025 at 11:49 a.m.